2018 NBA Playoffs: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat preview

1. When will Joel Embiid play?

Debuting his new mask while going through warmups before the final game of the regular season, Joel Embiid spoke to reporters and said it’s “unlikely” he will be ready to play in Game 1 on April 14. He didn’t rule out playing, but stated he doesn’t feel ready to participate just yet.

It shouldn’t be too big of a deal if he misses the first game of the series given how raucous the Philly faithful will be hosting that game and riding their winning streak, but if Embiid is a doubt for Game 2, things could get interesting, especially if Miami opts to make Hassan Whiteside the focal point of their offense.

We know how important Embiid is to this team and his head-to-head matchup with Whiteside has been entertaining on the court and on social media since the preseason. Embiid has the more diverse game, but I’m a fan of Whiteside’s game, and believe he can have an impact on this series with or without a healthy Embiid.

That makes Embiid getting back on the court very important. Everybody (myself included) loves what the 76ers have turned into late in the season, but to make a run, or even get past the Miami Heat, they need their big man healthy and performing well. He should return for the series sooner rather than later, but how quickly can he return to pre-injury form?